125 Gallon Recommended Lighting?

footbagger311 · 06/14/2008, 10:20 AM

So I want to get some T5 HO lighting for my aquarium, but I am not sure which would be the best and in my budget.

I am thinking something with lots of bulbs or high wattage, if that makes any sense. I still am pretty uneducated about the lighting aspect of this hobby.

darthwall · 06/14/2008, 08:26 PM

well I think your supposto go with sumthin like 5 watts per gallon. I was running a icecap 660 on 4 110W VHOs 2 super actinic and 2 white actinic and that was ok then up graded to 2 400W 20,000K radium MH,s and im still using the icecap too

footbagger311 · 06/15/2008, 12:10 AM

Hmmm, I am not sure what any of that means lol but I am trying to stick with T5 because I hear MH's get way too hot.

hahnmeister · 06/15/2008, 12:48 AM

Halides and T5s make about the same heat... its just that the T5s have about 40x the surface area per watt to shed that heat, so at any one point on the bulb, they arent as hot as halide, but overall, they make about the same heat.

I would suggest T5 though still... 6-8 of the 5' (80 watt) bulbs. You can even run them on the Icecap 660 ballast (3 at a time) for good results.

footbagger311 · 06/15/2008, 01:08 AM

So when shopping around I'd be looking for a 8 x 80 fixture or something like that?

mga345 · 06/15/2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by footbagger311
So I want to get some T5 HO lighting for my aquarium, but I am not sure which would be the best and in my budget.

I am thinking something with lots of bulbs or high wattage, if that makes any sense. I still am pretty uneducated about the lighting aspect of this hobby.

Have you consider a LED system?

I have a 125G tank with the Solaris I-4 48" and it is excellent. I don't use chiller at all and there is no transfering of heat from the lights.

The cost is high but in the long run it will be cheaper.

Moshe

bboy aqua · 06/15/2008, 04:39 AM

i believe with a good t5 setup u can save money and get more par out of it then the solaris fixture

footbagger311 · 06/15/2008, 09:27 AM

Hmmm.....

atvdave · 06/15/2008, 09:49 AM

Here's what I run on my 125gal tank. I have excellent growth of both SPS, & LPS corals.

My only compliant is that the fans are just a bit too loud for my taste.

http://www.aquactinics.com/

hahnmeister · 06/15/2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by footbagger311
So when shopping around I'd be looking for a 8 x 80 fixture or something like that?

That would be it!

Fauna Marin

Sfiligoi Stealth

retrofit...

Those are what comes to mind.

tpenn187 · 06/15/2008, 10:08 AM

here is another option, you could always go with (12) 3 foot bulbs, and get (2) 3 foot fixtures. it would be more expensive when it comes to bulb replacement i think, but you can find more economically priced fixtures in that size range. tek, aquatinics, or even the nova extreme pro fixture. the pro fixture will have 12 3 foot bulbs put into one 6 foot unit. it would be plenty for a 125 for just about any coral.

extreme pro fixture:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=18700

tek hood: you will need two of these
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=SunlightT5

aquatinics: you will need two of these
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...de=Aquactinics

aquatinics:
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...de=Aquactinics

footbagger311 · 06/15/2008, 03:07 PM

Now my other question is, do these light fixtures run actinic bulbs and have the LED moonlights? I have those on my PC lights and I really like those features but I do not know if that is a standard or not.

hahnmeister · 06/15/2008, 06:49 PM

Going with twin banks of 3' bulbs makes no sense... you pay more (2x as many bulbs to replace, 2x as many ballasts, sockets, etc), and you actually end up with less (2x39 watt = 78 watts vs. 80). So no real reason to get dual 3' units unless your tank is really just 3' wide.

atvdave · 06/15/2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hahnmeister
Going with twin banks of 3' bulbs makes no sense... you pay more (2x as many bulbs to replace, 2x as many ballasts, sockets, etc), and you actually end up with less (2x39 watt = 78 watts vs. 80). So no real reason to get dual 3' units unless your tank is really just 3' wide.

I agree with you on that, but in my case I couldn't find a T-5 only fixture that fit flat on the aquariums edges like the one I have with-out doing a retro-fit.

Maybe you can point footbagger311 to some links with some Mfg's that do.

And yes.. bulb replacement is very $$$.

But regardless, I still like the fixture very much, and so do my corals.

footbagger311 · 06/15/2008, 08:52 PM

Some links would be nice, but AtvDave, how do you get into your tank? It looks like your light is flush against the top of your aquarium.

atvdave · 06/15/2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by footbagger311
Some links would be nice, but AtvDave, how do you get into your tank? It looks like your light is flush against the top of your aquarium.

I just slide it back. I have my tank setting around 5" from the wall and with the lights pushed all the way back I have around 8" of room to do what ever I need to do.

Also I made two support rods to help keep the fixture from tipping into my tanks water. Look at the photo above and you can see them.

footbagger311 · 06/15/2008, 09:14 PM

Are those plastic ones that hold the glass tops, not on yours? My tank has those and they seem pretty flimsy.

atvdave · 06/16/2008, 03:25 PM

I have a perfecto tank which has one center brace that is made with the tanks rim.

I made 2 rod's covered in shrink tub and siliconed the ends to prevent rust, and fit them snugly at the 1/4, and 3/4 position on my tank to keep the light fixture from tipping into the water just in-case it was to slide off the ends.

There only there for safety.

06/14/2008, 10:20 AM	#1
footbagger311 Lover of Reefs and Reefer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 382	125 Gallon Recommended Lighting? So I want to get some T5 HO lighting for my aquarium, but I am not sure which would be the best and in my budget. I am thinking something with lots of bulbs or high wattage, if that makes any sense. I still am pretty uneducated about the lighting aspect of this hobby. __________________ "Stay Positive and Love Your Life" Current Tank Info: I don't have one now. :-(

06/15/2008, 12:10 AM	#3
footbagger311 Lover of Reefs and Reefer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 382	Hmmm, I am not sure what any of that means lol but I am trying to stick with T5 because I hear MH's get way too hot. __________________ "Stay Positive and Love Your Life" Current Tank Info: I don't have one now. :-(

06/15/2008, 01:08 AM	#5
footbagger311 Lover of Reefs and Reefer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 382	So when shopping around I'd be looking for a 8 x 80 fixture or something like that? __________________ "Stay Positive and Love Your Life" Current Tank Info: I don't have one now. :-(

06/15/2008, 09:27 AM	#8
footbagger311 Lover of Reefs and Reefer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 382	Hmmm..... __________________ "Stay Positive and Love Your Life" Current Tank Info: I don't have one now. :-(

06/15/2008, 03:07 PM	#12
footbagger311 Lover of Reefs and Reefer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 382	Now my other question is, do these light fixtures run actinic bulbs and have the LED moonlights? I have those on my PC lights and I really like those features but I do not know if that is a standard or not. __________________ "Stay Positive and Love Your Life" Current Tank Info: I don't have one now. :-(

06/14/2008, 08:26 PM	#2
darthwall Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Yakima, Wa Posts: 74	well I think your supposto go with sumthin like 5 watts per gallon. I was running a icecap 660 on 4 110W VHOs 2 super actinic and 2 white actinic and that was ok then up graded to 2 400W 20,000K radium MH,s and im still using the icecap too

06/15/2008, 12:48 AM	#4
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Halides and T5s make about the same heat... its just that the T5s have about 40x the surface area per watt to shed that heat, so at any one point on the bulb, they arent as hot as halide, but overall, they make about the same heat. I would suggest T5 though still... 6-8 of the 5' (80 watt) bulbs. You can even run them on the Icecap 660 ballast (3 at a time) for good results.

06/15/2008, 04:39 AM	#7
bboy aqua Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: in your closet Posts: 670	i believe with a good t5 setup u can save money and get more par out of it then the solaris fixture

06/15/2008, 09:49 AM	#9
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	Here's what I run on my 125gal tank. I have excellent growth of both SPS, & LPS corals. My only compliant is that the fans are just a bit too loud for my taste. http://www.aquactinics.com/

06/15/2008, 10:08 AM	#11
tpenn187 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: central illinois Posts: 630	here is another option, you could always go with (12) 3 foot bulbs, and get (2) 3 foot fixtures. it would be more expensive when it comes to bulb replacement i think, but you can find more economically priced fixtures in that size range. tek, aquatinics, or even the nova extreme pro fixture. the pro fixture will have 12 3 foot bulbs put into one 6 foot unit. it would be plenty for a 125 for just about any coral. extreme pro fixture: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=18700 tek hood: you will need two of these http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...ode=SunlightT5 aquatinics: you will need two of these http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...de=Aquactinics aquatinics: http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merch...de=Aquactinics

06/15/2008, 06:49 PM	#13
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	Going with twin banks of 3' bulbs makes no sense... you pay more (2x as many bulbs to replace, 2x as many ballasts, sockets, etc), and you actually end up with less (2x39 watt = 78 watts vs. 80). So no real reason to get dual 3' units unless your tank is really just 3' wide.

06/15/2008, 08:52 PM	#15
footbagger311 Lover of Reefs and Reefer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 382	Some links would be nice, but AtvDave, how do you get into your tank? It looks like your light is flush against the top of your aquarium. __________________ "Stay Positive and Love Your Life" Current Tank Info: I don't have one now. :-(

06/15/2008, 09:14 PM	#17
footbagger311 Lover of Reefs and Reefer Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 382	Are those plastic ones that hold the glass tops, not on yours? My tank has those and they seem pretty flimsy. __________________ "Stay Positive and Love Your Life" Current Tank Info: I don't have one now. :-(

06/16/2008, 03:25 PM	#18
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	I have a perfecto tank which has one center brace that is made with the tanks rim. I made 2 rod's covered in shrink tub and siliconed the ends to prevent rust, and fit them snugly at the 1/4, and 3/4 position on my tank to keep the light fixture from tipping into the water just in-case it was to slide off the ends. There only there for safety.